A panel change touches the main service, so it is work for a licensed electrician and the local inspection process. Your job is to ask the right questions, get the answers in writing, and make sure the plan matches how the house is used now and how you expect to use it later.
What should the load calculation show?
It should list the loads the panel serves today and the loads you plan to add, such as an electric range, a heat pump, a vehicle charger, or a workshop. The new service size should rest on that list. If the calculation is missing, ask for it before you agree to a price or a start date.
Who coordinates the utility work?
Changing the service often means a coordinated disconnect and reconnect with the utility, and sometimes a meter change. Ask who schedules that step, how long the house is without power, and who is present when it happens.
What exactly gets replaced?
Ask which breakers are being swapped, whether the bus and main are new, and how grounding and bonding are handled. Ask whether the circuit labels are rewritten for the new panel. A clear list tells you what you own after the job and what the old panel still carries.
Is there a permit and an inspection?
Ask who pulls the permit, and confirm the inspection is booked before the new cover goes back on. Keep the permit paper with the commissioning record. It identifies the work and the person responsible for it.
What about circuits you add later?
Ask how many spaces are open after the change and whether the panel is labeled for future circuits. A panel with little room left can limit the next project, even when the first one goes well.
What should you have in writing?
Ask for the workmanship terms in writing, along with the name of the person to call if a question comes up after the job. Ask how callbacks are handled. Do not assume any promise that is not on paper.
Where does age fit?
The age of the existing panel is one planning input, not a verdict. Compare the install year with the electrical panel service life and planning page on this site, then let the load calculation and the electrician's findings set the scope.